Swimming Pools

Pool Safety – You Can Make a Difference

Kids can drown without a sound! All pool owners are responsible for safety in and around their pool. Unfortunately, too many children drown, or, suffer severe consequences of near drownings in backyard pools.

Let’s keep our kids safe

Some simple key actions can prevent a child drowning:

Always supervise children

Restrict their access to the pool

Educate them in water awareness

Ensure someone has resuscitation and first aid skills.

Recent Changes to Swimming Pool Requirements

The NSW State Government has recently made some significant and far-reaching changes to the way that ‘back yard’ and tourist-related swimming pools are managed, operated and inspected. Council has prepared a Fact Sheet on Back Yard Swimming Pools which contains some useful information on changes to the Swimming Pool legislation.

The Swimming Pools Act 1992

The Swimming Pools Act 1992 sets out a range of requirements for backyard swimming pools including fencing requirements and display of CPR signs.

The Swimming Pools Regulation

The Swimming Pools Regulation 2008 calls up an Australian Standard AS1926.1-2007 Swimming Pool Safety, Part 1: Safety Barriers for Swimming Pools. This standard outlines a range of requirements for non-climbable zones, mesh sizes for fences, retaining walls as barriers and balconies projecting over pool areas.

Please note that under the Regulation, the exemption from fencing swimming pools on rural properties is no longer available. All swimming pools constructed after 1 July 2010 must have a child-resistant barrier installed.

The Australian Standard

Due to copyright reasons, Australian Standard AS1926.1-2007 Swimming Pool Safety, Part 1: Safety Barriers for Swimming Pools cannot be made available for download or copying. However, copies of the Standard are available for viewing from Council’s Administration Centre, 60 Station Street, Quirindi.

Obtaining a Swimming Pool Certificate

An inspection of a swimming pool is carried out by an authorised Council officer who will determine if the poolis compliant under the legislation described above. If the pool is considered to meet these requirements, then a Swimming Pool Certificate of Compliance can be issued.

Spa Pool Safety

Spa pools are covered by the legislation and should be separated by a child resistant pool safety barrier in accordance with Australian Standard AS1926.1-2007. Alternatively, the spa pool must be covered andsecured by a lockable child safe structure (such as a door, lid, grille or mesh).

Did You Know?

Pool covers are not a child resistant barrier.

Warning notices are compulsory for all swimming pools and spas: these can be purchased from Council’s Administration Building, 60 Station Street, Quirindi at a cost of $25.

Above ground swimming pools constructed since 1st September 2008 must be surrounded by a child resistant barrier.

Pool gates must open outwards, away from the swimming pool.

A dividing fence can be used as part of the barrier (must comply with Australian Standards).

A toddler’s pool (such as a wading pool or ‘blow up’ pool) that can hold in excess of 300mm of water is required to comply with child resistant barriers.